Life cycle of Pennis

It’s no secret that a man’s s*xual function declines with age. As his testosterone level falls, it takes more to arouse him. Once aroused, he takes longer to get an erection and to achieve climax and, following climax, to become aroused again. Age brings marked declines in semen volume and sperm quality. Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, is clearly linked to advancing years; studies show that between the ages of 40 and 70, the percentage of potent men falls from 60% to roughly 30%.

Men also experience a gradual decline in urinary function. A man’s urine stream weakens over time as a consequence of weakened bladder muscles and, in many cases, prostate enlargement.

And that’s not all. Recent research confirms what men have long suspected and, in some cases, feared. The man-hood itself undergoes significant changes as a man moves from his s*xual prime — around age 30 for most guys — into middle age and on to older age. Changes include:

Appearance. There are two major changes. The head of the man-hood (glans) gradually loses its purplish color, the result of reduced blood flow. And there is a slow loss of pubic hair. “As testosterone wanes, the man-hood gradually reverts to its prepubertal, mostly hairless, state,” says Irwin Goldstein, MD, director of s*xual medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego and editor-in-chief of The Journal of s*xual Medicine.

man-hood Size. Weight gain is common as men grow older. As fat accumulates on the lower abdomen, the apparent size of the man-hood changes. Ira Sharlip, MD, clinical professor of urology at the University of California, San Francisco, says, “A large prepubic fat pad makes the penile shaft look shorter.”

“In some cases, abdominal fat all but buries the man-hood,” says Ronald Tamler, MD, PhD, co-director of the Men’s Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “One way I motivate my overweight patients is by telling them that they can appear to gain up to an inch in size simply by losing weight.”

In addition to this apparent shrinkage (which is reversible) the man-hood tends to undergo an actual (and irreversible) reduction in size. The reduction — in both length and thickness — typically isn’t dramatic but may be noticeable. “If a man’s erect man-hood is 6 inches long when he is in his 30s, it might be 5 or 5-and-a-half inches when he reaches his 60s or 70s,” Goldstein says.

What causes the man-hood to shrink? At least two mechanisms are involved. One is the slow deposit of fatty substances (plaques) inside tiny arteries in the man-hood, which impairs blood flow to the organ. This process, known as atherosclerosis, is the same one that contributes to blockages inside the coronary arteries — a leading cause of heart attack.

Goldstein explains that another mechanism involves the gradual buildup of relatively inelastic collagen (scar tissue) within the stretchy fibrous sheath that surrounds the erection chambers. Erections occur when these chambers fill with blood. Blockages within the penile arteries — and increasingly inelastic chambers — mean smaller erections.

As man-hood size changes, so does the size of the testicles. “Starting around age 40, the testicles definitely begin to shrink,” Goldstein says. The testicles of a 30-year-old man might measure 3 centimeters in diameter, he says; those of a 60-year-old, perhaps measures only 2 centimeters.

Curvature. If penile scar tissue accumulates unevenly, the man-hood can become curved. This condition, known as Peyronie’s disease, occurs most commonly in middle age. It can cause painful erections and make intercourse difficult. The condition may require surgery.

Sensitivity. Numerous studies have shown that the man-hood becomes less sensitive over time. This can make it hard to achieve an erection and to have an climax. Whether it renders climax less pleasurable is still an open question.

Experts say these changes need not ruin your er*tic life. One recent study showed significant declines in erectile function, libido, and ejaculatory function in the men studied but only moderate decreases in s*xual satisfaction. The study’s authors concluded that, “Older men may be less likely to perceive these declines as a problem and be dissatisfied.”

As Goldstein puts it, “The most important ingredient for a satisfying s*x life is the ability to satisfy your partner. And that doesn’t require peak s*xual performance or a big man-hood.”